Manual Defense: a position guide--ILB

[teambayern]

Hopefully this thread catches on with the community, because I'd really like to see a lot of the great info dispersed throughout this site in one place. Manually controlling defenders can really improve a defense, and separates a lot of the great players from the mediocre. I myself have gotten used to starting as a D-lineman and then switching off to whoever is in a position to make a play. But I want to get used to playing a position pre-snap, so that I can make the reads, plays, ect. all myself.

For this thread (adding more for other positions if it catches on), I'd like to get a discussion going where we all add our tips on playing the ILB position manually. I'm not yet good enough to offer any kind of extensive advice, but I will kick things off with some observations.

I've found that I do better when I charge up rather than sprint on run plays. Because of the crafty RB's in this game, sprinting often puts you out of the play if there's even a small cutback. Charging up lets you take down the bigger rb's faster and can even let you land that "Big Hit" which I've fun to use but difficult to master. The one exception is on stretch plays against fast RB's when you need to catch up for a proper angle on the tackle. Also, I've found that using reach tackles while being blocked kills ISO runs up the middle, because it lets you cover so much ground.

I'm hoping there will be more in-depth analysis than that by some of you all, I'm just not in a position to do it myself.

[CreatineKasey]

Taken from a post a I wrote:

Okay here is my secret to blowing up run plays in the 4-3 with controlling the MLB.

I read the 3 interior linemen and the RB's all together.

If you read a pull, you immediately run where the guard is on the playside and run through an open crease. If you read stretch, same thing you run playside where that guard is. Use your R stick reach tackles to make a tackle if you aren't lined up with the ballcarrier directly. If you are head up feel free to use the R stick high, low, OR big hit tackles to blow the guy up. Big hits with a LB in the backfield are one of the most fun things you can user in this game.

Against an Iso you need to sprint into the hole and engage the FB in the backfield ideally taking up the most space in the hole you can. You DON'T want to hit the hole favoring a side usually, because it leaves the other side open to run through without a change of direction.

Once engaged with the FB, use your R-stick to "move" the FB and your player into the direction the RB takes (or the direction you guess he will take). Ideally this shifts you and the blocker into the RB, makes him stop in his tracks and redirect him completely. When this happens he's dead in the water. The higher tier LB's with superior block shedding abilities (Lambert is the hands down best) can shed the FB and make the tackle himself regularly.

Basic concepts when controlling the MLB:

- Always play downfield, it's not THAT hard to recover against hte pass.

- Always read the OL, they give away the play and you won't get fooled by playaction, counters or anything.

- Make sure your L stick is slightly leaning forward before the snap ideally, sometimes your LB will naturally backpedal at the snap on run plays and this screws everything up.

- When attacking a run play, as a rule of thumb you never want to pursue outside of a 45 degree angle. This means DO NOT run parallel with the RB outside on a toss play. As a MLB you play INSIDE to OUT. Take away the cutback lane and use that 45 degree angle to attack the ballcarrier on outside runs.

- Even though you are being physical and making big hits (so it is natural to do things harder with your controller) the more gentle and precise you are with your L stick the more success you will have tackling especially in close proximity. Defense is a challenge on this game with momentum so using the reach tackles along with keeping your weight under you can make your MLB a game-stopper.

- NEVER speed burst unless you are in straight line pursuit. If you speed burst with a ballcarrier head-up on you chances are they will juke you out or you will flat-out miss. Always hold "A" and run accordingly at the beginning of a play. Being under control as a defender is paramount in 2k football. Running around mindlessly doesn't work like it can in other games.

- I'm a believer in tapping to shed tackles as a LB for the most part. Others like to use pass rush moves, club and rip being the best, to shed blocks on run plays. I prefer to tap "A" (which is the bull rush move). It seems to keep the defender under control once the block is shed so I can pursue properly and quickly. This means when you engage the FB on the Iso, feel free to tap A and use the R-stick to move that FB into the RB as mentioned earlier.

- When in coverage, zone = just hold the strafe trigger and read your nearby WR's. Even if you can't knock the ball down be ready to BIG HIT the ballcarrier. This is SO gratifying, it kills stamina, momentum, and sometimes the WR . Man coverage = read your assignment and SPRINT to it in most cases. Generally your MLB will be slower than the TE/RB you are covering. Generally they move to the flats and you'll need the head start.

- Know when to tip balls, to go for interceptions, AND when to lay the guy out. This is very difficult to master. Basically if you are isolated with a higher tier player, tipping the ball is preferable. When covering the deep middle and you KNOW the deep post/seam route is coming, consider to SPRINT to the spot where the ball will come. Now, yes you give up the underneath stuff but sometimes you are saving a TD over the middle. Speed is not on your side so running to the spot makes up for that.

That's all the stuff I can think of right now. The cat's out of the bag. Hope someone learns something out of this somewhere

[teambayern]

^^^

jackpot

let's get some more in here

[MUSS]

Can we get some insight on Safety manual play CreatineKasey?

One thing I'd like to add for playing linebacker is play your asignment. even if the ballcarrier seems to be going to another gap. Taking on and shedding blocks allows your teammates to be in great position. And I fully agree on being light on the L stick, works for all positions on all sides of the ball when you make an action.

[CreatineKasey]

I'll write more on safety play tomorrow. But for now think of one thing at safety that matters most in my opinion: Anticipation. Being a stud safety is all about jumping plays and making a big impact that way. See the wide side WR gearing down to make an out cut on 3rd and long? JUMP IT for the INT!

[sportyguyfl31]

One thing about ILB and MLB. You dont have to make a ton of individual plays to stone the run.

Play within your scheme, and play your assignment. You can do your job, and play effective run defense and only have 2 solo tackles.

Smashing the gaps is 80% of run defense.

Playing Safety in this game is a little weird.

In this game, playing safety is more like playing traffic cop...its not a play making position. Oddly, enough, I found playing defense to be harder, because people would just see what direction I would go or line up, and then simply do the opposite.

First and foremost, remember that the position is "Safety" , not "Risky"

[CreatineKasey]

Quote: Originally Posted by sportyguyfl31

One thing about ILB and MLB. You dont have to make a ton of individual plays to stone the run. Play within your scheme, and play your assignment. You can do your job, and play effective run defense and only have 2 solo tackles. Smashing the gaps is 80% of run defense. Playing Safety in this game is a little weird. In this game, playing safety is more like playing traffic cop...its not a play making position. Oddly, enough, I found playing defense to be harder, because people would just see what direction I would go or line up, and then simply do the opposite. First and foremost, remember that the position is "Safety" , not "Risky"

I hear you here. When I control a safety I like to NOT have a deep responsibility, and if I do, I like to have other players manned up. Playing safety and controlling a deep 1/3 or 1/2 takes some real discipline, and route reading skills. I think it'd be cool to be able to play your 1/2 zone and lay big hits on guys that come in it consistently.. that's just a dream though

RE: ILB Control

Yeah you are exactly right about the actual tackles thing. Measure your success by the RB's success factoring in your playcalls, not your individual stats. I've held RB's to single digit yardage many times and only had maybe 2 tackles myself from the ILB. Killing gaps gets really fun once you realize the great result.

[Sven Draconian]

I'm the worst at over-pursuing and just missing running backs. I've been working on gearing down and (trying) not to sprint and the results have been alright. A lot fewer tackles in the backfield, a lot more getting blocked but a less successful running game.

For me, the hardest play to stop has been ISO. The lead FB (or, sometimes, guard stepping up) always seems to put me on my ***.